Kohli heaps praise on first coach

ndia batsman Virat Kohli on Wednesday credited his success in international cricket to his coach Rajkumar Sharma and said that former India captain Bishan Singh Bedi's tips on fitness during his Under-15 days have also helped him.

"I remember when I was taking part in a U-15 Delhi team camp, there was the camp for the Ranji team also. The then coach Bishan Bedi sir told me to give emphasis on fitness and I now know how important it is to be in top fitness in cricket," Kohli said.

Kohli, who was the Indian team's vice-captain in the just-concluded Asia Cup in Bangladesh, was on Wednesday honoured by his first academy - West Delhi Cricket Academy - in the presence of Bedi, former captain Kapil Dev, Chetan Chauhan and Chetan Sharma.

"I never thought I would share the dais with such stalwarts of the game. This is an honour for me. I am lucky to have got a coach like Rajkumar sir. Because of him only I am in the Indian team," he said.

Rajkumar said, "From the beginning, Kohli wanted to bat for long at the crease. His biggest assets are commitment and concentration. I am confident that like in the ODIs he will also do well in Test cricket."